disorders. I saw a news show a few years back where they covered a story of a man who murdered someone while he was asleep.”
“Oh, get out of here!” I exclaim. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Killed someone? And didn’t wake up?”
“Yes, I’m serious! They proved it scientifically and he was found innocent. Since then there have been all kinds of studies done to see how much a person can do in their sleep without knowing it. One woman would get up every night and eat food out of her refrigerator, not knowing why she couldn’t lose weight. Think about it, Addy. You’ve always been a heavy sleeper. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense. You must have tripped over something and hurt yourself.”
Just then, the doorbell chimes, so Mom goes to let Ronnie in. I get up carefully and check myself in the mirror to make sure I’m decent before following her down the hall. As I sit at the kitchen table, I look around for any signs that I might have been out here last night. Nothing appears unusual or out of place. How violent an accident would I have had to have to hurt myself badly enough to shred the flesh on my hands? And how could that not wake me up?
“Good morning, Maggie, you’re radiant as usual.” Ronnie kisses my mom on the cheek.
“Oh nonsense, I just woke up. Anyway, please come take a look at Addy.” They come into the kitchen and Ronnie sets down a bag he brought with him on the counter behind me.
Ronnie’s a middle-aged man of average height and average weight. In fact, he’s pretty much average in every way. He’s the most average person I know. He’s kind and was a good friend to my dad, but place him in a crowd of people and he would be the last person to get noticed—though I bet the people whose lives he saves don’t think he’s average. That’s what’s so neat about Ronnie. He’s a quiet hero. I really like him.
“So, Missy, what have you gotten yourself into?” He asks with a smile and a wink. He pulls a chair over so he can sit and face me. Noticing my bloodstained pajamas, he whistles. “How’d ya do that?”
“I’m not really sure ….” I show him my palms. He takes my hands in his and examines them closely.
My mom is leaning on the wall behind Ronnie chewing her thumbnail. “We think maybe she went sleepwalking last night and hurt herself somehow. When she went to bed, she was all in one piece, but this is how she woke up this morning.”
“I think I would call that sleep- adventuring ,” Ronnie chuckles. He examines my wounds and determines that my ribs are only bruised, not cracked. He wraps my hands and knees in simple bandages. “I suggest you take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for the pain. If you find that’s not enough, then you’ll have to go see a doctor for a stronger prescription. I also recommend you rest. Stay in bed today. Be lazy.”
Mom is nodding her head, but I speak up before she can agree. “Mom, I have to go today. I have my oral presentation.”
“I’m sure your teacher will understand if you explain it to him. If you like, I can call and leave him a message. You can stay home and rest the whole weekend and then do your report first thing on Monday.”
I consider this while Ronnie packs up his bag. My mom gives him a hug and thanks him. He waves and tells me to take it easy as he leaves. When Mom comes back, I’ve made up my mind.
“Mom, I’m really not hurting that bad. Honestly. This is nothing that Tylenol can’t fix. Let me go and give my report. I’m pretty sure that I’m one of the first to go. If I’m feeling yuck after that, I’ll come home. Okay?”
I know she would much rather have me home for the day, so I’m surprised when she says, “All right, Addy. If you’re certain you’ll be okay, then you can go. But I want you to let me or Jana drive you there and pick you up afterwards. If you feel it’s too much for you, call and we’ll come get you. Understand?”
“It’s a deal,” I say.
I take the pain
“Oh, get out of here!” I exclaim. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Killed someone? And didn’t wake up?”
“Yes, I’m serious! They proved it scientifically and he was found innocent. Since then there have been all kinds of studies done to see how much a person can do in their sleep without knowing it. One woman would get up every night and eat food out of her refrigerator, not knowing why she couldn’t lose weight. Think about it, Addy. You’ve always been a heavy sleeper. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense. You must have tripped over something and hurt yourself.”
Just then, the doorbell chimes, so Mom goes to let Ronnie in. I get up carefully and check myself in the mirror to make sure I’m decent before following her down the hall. As I sit at the kitchen table, I look around for any signs that I might have been out here last night. Nothing appears unusual or out of place. How violent an accident would I have had to have to hurt myself badly enough to shred the flesh on my hands? And how could that not wake me up?
“Good morning, Maggie, you’re radiant as usual.” Ronnie kisses my mom on the cheek.
“Oh nonsense, I just woke up. Anyway, please come take a look at Addy.” They come into the kitchen and Ronnie sets down a bag he brought with him on the counter behind me.
Ronnie’s a middle-aged man of average height and average weight. In fact, he’s pretty much average in every way. He’s the most average person I know. He’s kind and was a good friend to my dad, but place him in a crowd of people and he would be the last person to get noticed—though I bet the people whose lives he saves don’t think he’s average. That’s what’s so neat about Ronnie. He’s a quiet hero. I really like him.
“So, Missy, what have you gotten yourself into?” He asks with a smile and a wink. He pulls a chair over so he can sit and face me. Noticing my bloodstained pajamas, he whistles. “How’d ya do that?”
“I’m not really sure ….” I show him my palms. He takes my hands in his and examines them closely.
My mom is leaning on the wall behind Ronnie chewing her thumbnail. “We think maybe she went sleepwalking last night and hurt herself somehow. When she went to bed, she was all in one piece, but this is how she woke up this morning.”
“I think I would call that sleep- adventuring ,” Ronnie chuckles. He examines my wounds and determines that my ribs are only bruised, not cracked. He wraps my hands and knees in simple bandages. “I suggest you take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for the pain. If you find that’s not enough, then you’ll have to go see a doctor for a stronger prescription. I also recommend you rest. Stay in bed today. Be lazy.”
Mom is nodding her head, but I speak up before she can agree. “Mom, I have to go today. I have my oral presentation.”
“I’m sure your teacher will understand if you explain it to him. If you like, I can call and leave him a message. You can stay home and rest the whole weekend and then do your report first thing on Monday.”
I consider this while Ronnie packs up his bag. My mom gives him a hug and thanks him. He waves and tells me to take it easy as he leaves. When Mom comes back, I’ve made up my mind.
“Mom, I’m really not hurting that bad. Honestly. This is nothing that Tylenol can’t fix. Let me go and give my report. I’m pretty sure that I’m one of the first to go. If I’m feeling yuck after that, I’ll come home. Okay?”
I know she would much rather have me home for the day, so I’m surprised when she says, “All right, Addy. If you’re certain you’ll be okay, then you can go. But I want you to let me or Jana drive you there and pick you up afterwards. If you feel it’s too much for you, call and we’ll come get you. Understand?”
“It’s a deal,” I say.
I take the pain
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